PRESSURE BALANCING MECHANISM FOR A CONNECTOR

1 . A pressure balancer for a tube comprising:

a compression collar for mating with a component comprising a seal; and

a gripper for anchoring to the tube and mating with the compression collar; and

wherein rotating the compression collar applies an axial force to the tube.

2 . The pressure balancer of claim 1 , wherein the gripper comprises a ferrule disposed over the tube, wherein the ferrule anchors the gripper to the tube when compressed.

3 . The pressure balancer of claim 1 , wherein rotating the compression collar in one direction applies the axial force toward the component comprising the seal and rotating the compression collar in the other direction applies the axial force away from the component comprising the seal.

4 . A method for making a pressure balanced connection with a component comprising a seal, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

mating a compression collar to the sealed component;

anchoring a gripper to a tube proximate the compression collar;

mating the gripper with the compression collar; and

rotating the compression collar to apply an axial force to the tube.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein anchoring the gripper to the tube comprises the step of deforming a gripper ferrule.

6 . A method for making a pressure balanced connection with a component comprising a seal, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

sliding a compression collar onto a tube;

engaging the component comprising the seal with the compression collar;

sliding a gripper into the tube;

engaging the gripper with the compression collar;

gripping the tube; and

rotating the compression collar to apply an axial force to the tube.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein gripping the tube comprises:

sliding a ferrule over the tube inside the gripper; and

compressing the ferrule.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein compressing the ferrule deforms the ferrule and anchors it to the tube.